Suns to interview Sixers assistant coach Monty Williams
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Sixers have granted permission to the Suns to meet with assistant coach Monty Williams about coaching job, league source tells ESPN.
Storyline: Suns Coaching Job
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Shams Charania: First two coaches whom the Phoenix Suns will request permission to interview for head coach opening: Philadelphia assistant Monty Williams and Portland assistant David Vanterpool, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Suns fire Igor Kokoskov
Adrian Wojnarowski: Phoenix has fired coach Igor Kokoskov, league sources tell ESPN.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Suns had planned to bring Kokoskov back for a second season, especially after the team’s stronger play in late stages of the season. Kokoskov has been a well-respected tactician who becomes another victim of the constant turnover in Phoenix.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Here’s a factor in the timing of Kokoskov’s dismissal: The Suns are planning to target Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams, league sources tell ESPN. Lakers are planning a second interview with Williams soon, sources said.
The Suns have not committed to bringing first-year coach Igor Kokoskov back for next season, and with just 16 wins, Phoenix could take a step backward in a season in which improvement was expected. A source told Sporting News that Walton, who starred at Arizona, is seen as a top potential replacement for Kokoskov should the Suns make a move.
But Walton could look elsewhere for opportunities, given the apparent dysfunction in Phoenix. According to sources, the Cavaliers will seek a coach who can develop the franchise’s young players, particularly point guard Collin Sexton and whomever the Cavs select in this year’s draft. Should Cleveland land a top-three pick, the job will look much better.
The defending NBA champions left the Suns with some nice parting compliments. “They’re a lot better now than they were early,” said Golden State coach Steve Kerr, whose Warriors blasted Phoenix by 20 points back in October in Oakland. “They didn’t show it tonight, but watching them on tape getting ready for this game, dramatic improvement.”
Bryan Kalbrosky: David Blatt told Joe Arlauckas (@jarlauckas8) he interviewed for four head coaching vacancies this summer. Reports indicate that this includes the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. I’m certainly curious the fourth gig but he says he’s happy where he is now.
Scott Bordow: McDonough: Coaching search was “robust and exhaustive process.”
Scott Bordow: Igor: “I feel like I’m coming back home.”
Scott Bordow: Jones: “I’m excited for our guys to accept greater expectations.”
Gerald Bourguet: Kokoskov: “The ingredients are coming from Ryan [McDonough], now I’ve gotta cook.”
Scott Bordow: Igor on Suns’ youth: “We won’t hide behind it or use it as an excuse.”
Scott Bordow: Got off the phone a few minutes ago with Suns’ GM Ryan McDonough: He said report Phoenix offered 4-year contract to David Fizdale was “inaccurate.” Didn’t want to get into specifics.
Michael Scotto: David Fizdale passed on a 4-year offer from the Phoenix Suns before eventually accepting a 4-year offer from the New York Knicks to become head coach, league sources told The Athletic.
Joe Ingles: Really happy for my man Igor.. Deserves to be a head coach in this league!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Rudy Gobert: Congrats to coach Igor, Phoenix got themselves a good one 👍🏽.
Ricky Rubio: There is no one who deserve it more than him. I’m telling you. So happy when good things happen to good people. Igor for “Coach of the year” !!! 😁
Jusuf Nurkic: Congrats ☝🏻👏🏻
The Phoenix Suns have agreed to terms with Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov to become their new head coach. The two sides reached agreement on a three-year contract, league sources told ESPN. Suns general manager Ryan McDonough met with Kokoskov in Houston before Sunday’s Game 1 and moved quickly to make an offer, league sources told ESPN.
Kokoskov, 46, has been considered one of the finest assistant coaches in the NBA, on and off in the league for 15 seasons. Jazz coach Quin Snyder and GM Dennis Lindsey have credited him with a great deal of the growth of Utah’s young roster.
Spencer Dinwiddie: Ppl saying doncic to suns is confirmed because of the coaching hire. But he was also dragic’s coach. Set up for an interesting offseason. That’s why we’re the best league.
Gerald Bourguet: #Suns make the Kokoskov hiring official with an announcement.
The Phoenix Suns have agreed to terms with Igor Kokoškov to become the team’s new head coach, making him the first head coach born and raised outside North America in NBA history. Kokoškov will begin his duties as Suns head coach following the conclusion of the Utah Jazz season.
“We are thrilled to bring Valley resident Igor Kokoškov back to Arizona as head coach of the Phoenix Suns,” said General Manager Ryan McDonough. “Igor has been a pioneer throughout his basketball career and he brings a wealth of high level coaching experience to our club. He was one of the first non-American born assistant coaches at both the NCAA and NBA levels and his most recent head coaching stint includes leading the Slovenian national team to the 2017 EuroBasket title, which was the first European title in the history of the country. Igor’s teams have always had a player development focus, a creative style of play and a track record of success.”
Eric Woodyard: It’s official.
Tony Jones: Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey to the Salt Lake Tribune on Kokoskov: We are so happy for Igor and his family. Igor is a man of integrity who has worked very hard at his craft. A good coach is immensely valuable in this business
Jared Dudley: Well deserved!!!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Suns hire Igor Kokoskov as head coach
Adrian Wojnarowski: Igor Kokoskov is signing a three-year deal with the Suns, league sources tell ESPN.
Fizdale would bring the Knicks one of the most desirable coaches on the market. The Phoenix Suns also expressed significant interest in Fizdale for their coaching vacancy, league sources said.
Q: Not a Blazers fan, but what do you think they should do next? — (Alex, Sacramento) Marc STEIN: I’m guessing you’re asking about the roster, but first we have to deal with the status of the coach (Terry Stotts) and the general manager (Neil Olshey). Throughout the Blazers’ first-round sweep by New Orleans, there were rumblings around the league that Stotts’ job was in jeopardy and that teams such as Orlando and Phoenix were ready to pounce if he indeed became available. But that talk has largely quieted since Portland’s early exit.
Tony Jones: Utah Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov interviewed with the Phoenix Suns for a second time today, league sources tell The Salt Lake Tribune….Kokoskov is seeking his first NBA head coaching job
Igor Kokoskov will get a second interview with the Phoenix Suns for the head coaching job, reported 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro. Kokoskov is an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz and was the Slovenia national team head coach from 2016-17.
Chris Haynes: ESPN Sources: Phoenix has removed Jay Triano from consideration for its head coaching position. Triano served as the interim coach. Assistant coach Ty Corbin has been relieved of his duties.
John Gambadoro: Suns are in the process of informing potential coaching candidates of their status – can tell you that Jason Kidd who was interviewed will not be in the second round of interviews.
Scott Bordow: Some breaking Suns’ news from Costa Rica. League source said Phoenix talked to Toronto assistant Nick Nurse and Pelicans associate head coach Chris Finch this week.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Suns coaching search is gathering momentum again: Spurs assistant James Borrego interviewed in Phoenix on Thursday, and former Charlotte coach Steve Clifford met with franchise officials there today, league sources tell ESPN.
The Hawks gave Budenholzer permission to speak with the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks for their coaching openings last week. Budenholzer interviewed with the Knicks on Sunday and remains a candidate for the job, league sources said. He pulled out of contention for the Suns job after several conversations with ownership and management.
Lindsey Hunter had the title of Phoenix Suns’ interim coach for three months in 2013 but the actual job was done more often than not by assistant coach Igor Kokoskov. “Lindsey wasn’t ready for that role,” said Phoenix forward Jared Dudley, who was in his fourth season with the Suns in 2013. “During timeouts Igor was the one drawing up plays.”
Scott Bordow: Everyone going nuts about my Jason Kidd, Vinny Del Negro news: Chill. McDonough told me in March he would talk to a lot of people in initial round of interviews. Then will whittle list down. Doesn’t hurt to get a lot of input, opinions, about your team and organization.
Sean Deveney: Another guy to keep in mind for the @Phoenix Suns coaching job: longtime assistant coach Rex Kalamian, currently with the Raptors. He has good credentials with many execs, and sources tell SN if the Suns can wait until TOR has a break to interview him, he’ll be a candidate.
Add two more names to the Suns’ coaching search. A league source said the Suns have spoken to former Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd as well as former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro.
Kidd, who has openly campaigned for the job, was fired as Bucks coach after 45 games this season. He has a 183-190 career coaching record but his tenures in Brooklyn and Milwaukee reportedly ended after conflicts with management. Del Negro played for the Suns in 2000-01 and for two games in 2001-02. He was named Phoenix’s director of player personnel in 2006 and one year later was promoted to assistant general manager. Del Negro has a 210-184 record in five seasons as a head coach.
The Suns reportedly have conducted or will conduct interviews with several other candidates, including interim coach Jay Triano, former Memphis coach David Fizdale, Utah assistant Igor Koskoskov, former Charlotte coach Steve Clifford, former Orlando and Indiana coach Frank Vogel, former Houston coach Kevin McHale, former Cleveland coach David Blatt and San Antonio assistant James Borrego.
Lindsey Hunter had the title of Phoenix Suns’ interim coach for three months in 2013 but the actual job was done more often than not by assistant coach Igor Kokoskov. “Lindsey wasn’t ready for that role,” said Phoenix forward Jared Dudley, who was in his fourth season with the Suns in 2013. “During timeouts Igor was the one drawing up plays.”
Kokoskov is lauded for his player-development skills, an asset that is critical for a young Suns team. “It’s different, working with him,” former Jazz point guard George Hill told the Salt Lake Tribune. “The things that he has me do are different than I’ve been used to. But what he’s had me do is phenomenal, little things that I didn’t know would help me become a better shooter and better off the dribble, things like that. We take a lot of time doing balance and core. You always want to work with someone who’s experienced, and Coach has been very good for me.”
Dudley said Kokoskov has a great offensive mind – “When it comes to sets, spacing, being aggressive, he’s really good at that” – and he lauded Kokoskov’s teaching ability, recalling the work he did in improving Shaquille O’Neal’s free-throw shooting. O’Neal shot 51.3 percent from the line in 2007-08. In 2008-2009, Kokoskov’s first season with Phoenix, he shot 59.5 percent. “From a development standpoint he’s really big on players putting in the work, working before games,” Dudley said. “If you watch him in Utah with the players he has, he has a very thorough and extensive pregame workout where he pushes you and is on top of you.”
Eric Woodyard: Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov has interviewed for the vacant Phoenix Suns coaching job. Jazz head coach Quin Snyder has confidence that he can lead a team. “I told him for a number of years, I think he’s a head coach in the NBA,” Snyder said.
Tony Jones: Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov recently interviewed for the Phoenix Suns coaching vacancy, league sources tell The Salt Lake Tribune
Eurohoops.net: Igor Kokoskov a head coach candidate for the Phoenix Suns. Goran Dragic: 👍🏼🙏🏻
New name for the Suns coaching search – Phoenix will interview Utah assistant coach Igor Kokoskov for their vacant head coaching job. Former Rockets coach Kevin McHale and Spurs assistant James Borrego are also candidates.
Chris Mannix: With Mike Budenholzer withdrawing from consideration in Phoenix (per @Adrian Wojnarowski), look for Steve Clifford to interview at some point. Mutual interest, source told @The Vertical.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has withdrawn from consideration for the Phoenix Suns head coaching job, league sources tell ESPN.
Marc Stein: The Phoenix Suns have an interview scheduled Wednesday with former Grizzlies coach David Fizdale, league sources say
Phoenix is also expected to interview former Memphis coach David Fizdale and former Charlotte coach Steve Clifford. ESPN reported that Phoenix also has had informal conversations with former Orlando and Indiana coach Frank Vogel and ex-Cleveland coach David Blatt. A Suns source said Phoenix has not ruled out any candidates and will have “many conversations” with prospective coaches.
One NBA scout said the Suns’ job is more attractive than widely perceived because of the talent on hand – in particular Devin Booker and Josh Jackson – the possibility of getting the No. 1 draft pick, and General Manager Ryan McDonough’s assertion that Phoenix is done rebuilding and instead will aggressively pursue veterans either in trades or free agency.
Budenholzer met with Suns general manager Ryan McDonough and owner Robert Sarver over the two days, league sources said, after Atlanta granted him permission to meet with Phoenix late last week.
The Hawks and Budenholzer are both open to ending their partnership, but there are several hurdles that would need to be cleared before that could happen — including the Suns making an offer, agreeing to a contract, and possibile compensation to Atlanta.
The Suns are considering several head-coaching candidates, but have largely been focused on getting to know Budenholzer — who is a native of Arizona — in recent days, league sources said. Phoenix has had informal conversations with former head coaches Steve Clifford (Charlotte), Frank Vogel (Orlando and Indiana) and David Blatt (Cleveland), sources said. The Suns are still considering interim coach Jay Triano.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has been meeting with Phoenix Suns management and ownership on Monday and Tuesday, and a sense is expected to emerge soon whether there is a pathway to Budenholzer becoming the Suns’ next head coach, league sources tell ESPN.
Scott Bordow: Suns have not ruled out anyone for the job. Talking to a wide swath of candidates.
Scott Bordow: Hearing that San Antonio Spurs assistant head coach James Borrego may be on list of candidates Suns want to interview. Has been assistant with Spurs, Hornets, Magic. Only HC experience 30 games with Magic as interim in 2014-15
Scott Bordow: Source: Suns will interview former Memphis coach David Fizdale next week.
David Fizdale has job interviews scheduled this week for vacant head-coaching positions with the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns. But for now, Fizdale plans to attend Game 1 of the Warriors-Spurs series on Saturday so he can learn more.
Budenholzer is planning to meet with Suns officials early next week, league sources said. A native of Arizona, Budenholzer permission to meet with Suns about head coach opening has two years, $14 million-plus left on his contract.
Grand Canyon basketball coach Dan Majerle has turned down a request from the Suns to meet about the NBA team’s head-coaching vacancy. “(General Manager) Ryan (McDonough) reached out and asked to meet, but I told him that I was going to stay at Grand Canyon,” Majerle said. “I’m not ruling it out in the future. But there are still things I want to do here.”
Booker told azcentral sports Friday that he’s less concerned with whom the Suns hire than he is the future makeup of the roster. “I’ve had three coaches since I’ve been here and I’ve never blamed anything on one of the coaches as an individual,” Booker said. “I’ve had great relationships with all the coaches. I think the NBA just overall, when you need somebody to blame the first person that you go to is the coach. But at the end of the day you need the right players that match each other. Not just the best players. Chemistry helps. “I just don’t think a lot of responsibility is with the coaches. It’s a players’ league.”
“I love everything Jay has done since Day 1 that he’s been here,” Booker said, adding that it’s not fair to judge Triano by the Suns’ record. “He’s kept the same mindset of getting everybody better. It’s not an easy position with the young team we have. The basketball experience we have is not up to par. We have a lot of guys that are still just learning the basics.”
Jason Kidd an option for Suns?
Zach Lowe: Have you heard any Jason Kidd to Suns buzz? Howard Beck: Yes, I have heard buzz. And in fact, when I asked a few people as I was talking to them about Jason in general, and I said, ‘Where could you see him ending up?’ And two people, in two very different walks of NBA life, both said Phoenix immediately.
The Phoenix Suns are beginning their search for a new head coach now, a process that will include interim coach Jay Triano, general manager Ryan McDonough told ESPN. In a coaching market that could be expansive with openings this spring, the Suns want to get a start on connecting with available candidates now and leap into the rest of the coaching market in mid-April when the regular season ends, McDonough said.
Triano’s agent, Warren LeGarie, requested that his client be able to prepare a formal presentation at the end of the season, away from the grind of the final weeks, LeGarie told ESPN. Triano prefers to make sure he’s giving his undivided attention to the team, ahead of his aspirations to be eventually installed as the full-time coach.
General Manager Ryan McDonough said Wednesday that Phoenix will conduct a “wide-ranging” coaching search that will include Triano, NBA coaches – both former head coaches and current assistant coaches – and possibly college head coaches. McDonough said that following the initial round of interviews the candidate list will be whittled down and “two or three” coaches will get more in-depth interviews before a decision is made.
McDonough said he expects to reach out to potential candidates sometime later this month or early April. He and Vice President of Basketball Operations James Jones will conduct the search, but McDonough said he’ll also receive player input and that Managing General Partner Robert Sarver will be involved as “much or as little as he wants.”
“Coach Triano will be part of the process,” McDonough said. “His interview will be a little different than the rest of the candidates, given that we like him and we’ve worked with him for two years now. It’s important to keep in mind he was not our head coach through the offseason so part of his interview would be, ‘If he was hired as the permanent head coach of the Suns, what would he do the same or what he would do differently? What support can we give him organizationally? What would his staff look like?’ I think all of that needs to be discussed.”
When you promoted Earl Watson to full-time coach you didn’t interview any other candidates. Will that change this time around? Robert Sarver: Yeah. We’re going to cast a much wider net. Q: Including college coaches? A: I don’t want to answer that. Q: Would it be imperative that a candidate has some head-coaching experience? A: That’s not for me to answer.
Robert Sarver: I think Jay (Triano) has had a good way with the players. He’s been solid and consistent with them and I think he stepped into a tough job that wasn’t what he signed up for and I appreciate what he’s done.
May 23, 2019 | 2:47 pm EDT Update
Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins out for Game 1 of NBA Finals?
Chris Mannix: Kevin Durant is unlikely to be ready to play when the NBA Finals open on May 30th, per Warriors. Team is hopeful he can return during the series. @Kevin Durant has yet to begin on-court activities.
Mark Kreidler: Warriors announce that Durant hasn’t been cleared to return to on-court activity. Team says it’s “hopeful” that “at some point” he plays in NBA Finals. Cousins is more likely at this point.
Mark Medina: Warriors say they “anticipate” DeMarcus Cousins will play at some point in the NBA Finals. Warriors they are “hopeful” Kevin Durant plays at some point in the NBA Finals. But nothing is certain. Warriors will re-evaluate both players on Wednesday
Tim Bontemps: The NBA has announced its All-NBA teams. By being named to one of the three teams, Damian Lillard is now eligible for four-year, $191 million extensions this summer, and Kemba Walker is eligible to sign a five-year, $221 million deal as a free agent July 1. No Beal or Thompson.
Rod Boone: It’s third-team Alll-NBA team honors for Kemba Walker. That means he’s eligible for the supermax contract, which in his case is five years, $221 million. Equates to a salary of $38.2 million per season. Now GM Mitch Kupchak has the financial parameters he must work with.
Tim Reynolds: Giannis can now sign in 2020 for about $250 million with the Bucks and I’m just going to go ahead and say that they’re going to … yeah he’s getting paid.
Christopher Hine: The league just released its All-NBA teams. Karl-Anthony Towns DID NOT make it. Rudy Gobert beat him out for the third team. His 5-year extension will be worth around $158 million instead of $190 million.
